Eric Emanuel Unveils His First adidas Collaboration With the Crazy BYW

The adidas BYW line debuted earlier this year to plenty of fanfare from collectors. Since then, the new franchise has been relatively silent, until now. Check out Eric Emanuel’s premium new Crazy BYW LVL 1, launching at his pop-up tomorrow.

Originally launched in 1996, adidas Feet You Wear, or FYW for short, was made famous when former adidas athlete Kobe Bryant started using the technology in his shoes. The idea behind FYW was simply to create separate sections of the midsole for flexibility, and have these pod-shaped sections wrap around the foot for maneuverability, and to keep the foot close to the ground. The technology gained wider popularity for both athletic and non-athletic purposes, which allowed for the transformation into today’s Boost You Wear (BYW), which will be sold both on and off the basketball court this year. The adidas Crazy series was originally Kobe’s signature line before he left the brand and the most popular models were renamed.

This is where Eric Emanuel fits in. The New York-based menswear designer got his start after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology and turning his talents to create custom NBA jerseys. The inspiration came from his love of basketball as a child, following players like Kobe and Jordan to greatness. His work caught fire due to its use of premium materials like python and suede, soon finding itself in the hands of well-known retailers like UNKNWN and Patron of the New. Now, adidas Originals has tapped Emanuel for a special take on the Crazy BYW LVL 1, a basketball-turned-lifestyle sneaker from earlier this year.

Eric Emanuel’s signature adidas BYW is the most unique version of the silhouette yet. The Crazy LVL 1 begins with a tumbled leather upper in a deep burgundy hue for most of the shoe, while the tongue and upper paneling come in a matching burgundy suede. The suede toe box also arrives in a smooth suede material, which is mirrored on the interior sides of this BYW. The medial sides of the shoe also reveal the bold pink and orange TPU plate that rests in the midfoot, connecting forefoot and heel Boost pods. Finally, the Eric Emanuel x adidas Crazy BYW is complete with white stitched detailing and gold lace loops.

Eric Emanuel’s premium new take on the adidas Crazy BYW LVL 1 has not yet been given an official release date. However, Emanuel is scheduled to host a pop-up event in New York tomorrow, and our money is on a surprise release then. The event will take place at 161 Grand St. at 11 A.M., though additional details are currently unknown. Check out Eric’s teaser images below for a better look at the luxurious new adidas BYW, and stay tuned to JustFreshKicks for more information regarding a release.